Relationship between attachment style, social support perception and depression

Objectives. - Previous research has proved that some types of attachment styles as well as poor social support are critical risk factors for depression. This study aims to examine the relation between attachment style, social support and vulnerability to depression. Materials and methods. - The authors compared 80 patients suffering from mood depressive disorder, diagnosed on the basis of the DSM-IV TR criteria, to 80 normal controls. The importance of depression was evaluated in patients using the Hamilton depression scale. All the subjects completed two self-report scales: the Relationship Questionnaire designed to evaluate the attachment models in adult close relationships, and the Social Support questionnaire assessing perceived number of social supports and satisfaction with available social support. Results. - The sex ratio in our sample was 1,7 women for one man; and the mean age was 44 years in patients and 34 years in controls. A significant difference was found between the two groups concerning attachment style (p < 0,001): only 29% of depressed patients had secure attachment versus 56% in normal controls, and fearful/avoidant attachment was more frequent in patients (25%) than in controls (1%). Depressed subjects received less social support than their controls (p < 0,014), and had less satisfaction with perceived social support (P < 0,001). Conclusions. - In depressed subjects social network features were characterized by insecure attachment and poor social support. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.